Governance Structure

The Australian Twin Registry is administered through the University of Melbourne and managed by a Director, Professor John Hopper and Deputy Director, Dr Debra Foley. Under the requirements of the NHMRC Enabling Grant Committee, the governance structure and access policy of the ATR was reviewed. An independent Advisory Board was instituted in 2005, chaired by one of the ATR twin members, and functions under an agreed Charter.

For further information see: Australian Twin Registry Governance Structure Diagram

Advisory Board

The Board consists of at least six, and no more than ten, independent members.

The main objectives of the Board are to:

• through advice and guidance, bring a wide range of skills and expertise to the Registry to enhance its ability to facilitate and support medical and scientific studies that involve the participation of twins and/or their relatives;
• protect and balance the interests of all stakeholders.
• ensure that all Australian researchers have fair and equitable access to the facilities.

Advisory Board Members:

Mr Vincent Pollaers (Chair)

Ms Ann Marie Harli (AMBA Rep)

Dr Paul Jelfs

Associate Professor Paul Lancaster

Mr William Mackerras (Twin Rep)

Dr Keith Horsley

Professor Margaret Otlowski

Professor David Ravine

Associate Professor David Whiteman

For further information see: Australian Twin Registry Advisory Board Charter

Expert Reference Group

The Expert Reference Group consists of at least ten, and no more than twenty, members, including the Director and Deputy Director of the Registry.

The main objectives of the Group are to:

• through advice and guidance, bring a wide range of research, clinical, scientific, and other, skills and expertise to the Australian Twin Registry to enhance its ability to facilitate and support current and future medical and scientific studies that involve the participation of twins and/or their relatives;
• promote use of the facilities of the Registry by Australian researchers;
• promote the registration of volunteers with the Registry;
• promote the use of the special characteristics of twins in medical and scientific studies;
• promote an informal network of Australian researchers interested in the use of the characteristics of twins in medical and scientific studies;
• provide mentoring to, and assist in the education and training of, Australian researchers wishing to use the special characteristics of twins in their medical and scientific studies; and
• review the applications of researchers, and provide recommendations to the Registry, regarding use of the facilities.

For further information see: Australian Twin Registry Expert Reference Group Charter

Dispute Resolution

The purpose of the Dispute Resolution process is to facilitate the expeditious and fair resolution of disputes that arise between the ATR and its participants, or between two or more participants. This process is intended to satisfy the requirements of the 'Enabling Grants Access to Facilities Policy' of the National Health and Medical Research Council ("NHMRC").

For further information see: Australian Twin Registry Dispute Resolution Process